Written by Samyukta Vivek
What did Dela-“wear” on election day? Her New Jersey!
Jokes aside, November 5th, aka Election Day, is approaching at a rapid pace, and banners, signs, and merchandise can often be seen out in public, showing support for the main candidates for this election. The presidential candidates are giving it their all, organizing rallies and touring states to win the people’s hearts and we will know if they succeeded in doing so on the fateful day.
North Carolina is an especially important state during this tight election. Classified as a swing state, North Carolina’s sixteen precious electoral votes can be won by either the Democrats or Republicans. In a sea of decided states, winning North Carolina, amongst other swing states such as Pennsylvania and Arizona, gives a candidate a significant boost. These states are major assets to either party as they are usually the deciding factors in an election this close. However, even if swing states aren’t signs of a certain win, they are immensely beneficial to any presidential candidate.
Another aspect of this election is early voter turnout. The numbers are looking quite impressive and according to NBC News, over 64 million people have already cast their vote, which represents 40% of all voters on a national scale. Additionally, the North Carolina State Board of Elections writes that in North Carolina, a new record for the most number of first day early votes has been set with an astounding 353,166 ballots. This showcases the widespread election fever hitting the country, leading to increased voter participation. Though not mandated, voting is a key ideal of the constitutional republic by which the United States of America is governed. By having more citizens involved in electing the 47th president of the United States, a sense of community internally and unity within the country is instilled. This makes the country both safer and stronger.
Overall, the finish line marking the end of this presidential election is mere days away. After Tuesday, the U.S. will be led by a new president and steered in a new direction. Nevertheless, no matter the winner of this election, what remains, and should always remain a priority, is the representation of the people’s choice in their leader. After all, as Abraham Lincoln once aptly put it, we must aim to preserve our “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
Works Cited
Murphy, Joe. “Two charts and a map to help make sense of all the early voting data.” NBC News, 2024. Accessed 01 11 2024.
North Carolina State Board of Elections. “North Carolina Sets Turnout Record for First Day of Early Voting.” NCSBE, 18 October 2024, https://www.ncsbe.gov/news/press-releases/2024/10/18/north-carolina-sets-turnout-record-first-day-early-voting. Accessed 1 November 2024.
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